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More than 4,000 professionals have expressed their support for a clampdown on unqualified accountants and tax agents.
A petition was posted on the 10 Downing Street website by Alan Shooter, a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), in an attempt to prevent financial advisers practising without legitimate accreditation.
It read: 'We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to prevent unqualified accountants, tax and financial advisors providing services unless they have professionally recognised qualifications (sic)'.
'Lawyers must have professional qualifications, but anyone can currently provide services calling themselves accountants, tax or consultants without qualifications,' said Mr Shooter. 'These people need to be regulated.'
Alan is now awaiting a Government response to his e-petition, which closed with a final tally of 4,134 names.
He added: 'Judging from the number of [qualified accountants] who signed up, this is a subject that matters to those of us who take our training and professionalism seriously'.
The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) welcomed the proposal that unqualified accountants and tax advisers should have professionally recognised qualifications before they can provide services.
The institute noted with interest a recent Early Day Motion — tabled by Liberal Democrat deputy leader Vince Cable on behalf of the ACCA — asking for legal protection for the term accountant, and said it would go further by including not only accountants but also tax and financial advisers.
